What does it do? Allows you to press a modifier key (LShift by default) to take books instead of reading them, or to default the action to take.

Is that it? Pretty much.

Does it stop you learning form spell books or opening books in the inventory? No.

So why a new version? Version 3.1 allows use of a gamepad button as the modifier key. If you're not using a gamepad you can stick with version 3.0. Version 3.0 fixes a few usability issues people have complained about by: adding inventory sound effects when you pick up (or fail to pick up) a book, shifting the book just before you pick it up so that nearby objects react (i.e. things on top of it fall), and blocking you from taking a book if it would be classified as stealing (you'll get a warning instead and need to read it first if you really want to take it).

What's still wrong with it? There's no visible indication you are about to take the book instead of reading it. The label displayed will still say Read even if you're holding the shift key or you've switched the default action to Take. The default action is still Read because it's less confusing that way. It's perfectly safe to switch the default to Take. If the book can't be taken for some reason, you'll see a warning message and then you can choose to read it instead.

How do I uninstall it? Delete the AlwaysPickUpBooks.esp and AlwaysPickUpBooks.bsa (although you really shouldn't be uninstalling mods unless you're starting a new character).

I don't want to use SkyUI, but want to configure this mod. Have a look at SkyUI-Away

I don't want to use SKSE. Cry me a river.

Contact: N/A

Credits: Mardoxx, Schlangster CDCooley (v3.0 update)

Special thanks to: ianpatt, PLB

Changelog: v1.0: Initial release v1.1: Made patches simpler. You can now read books which can not be taken. v2.0: No longer uses SKSE Plugin. Delete Data/SKSE/Plugins/MDX_AlwaysPickUpBooks.dll if it exists Toggle key configurable using SkyUI's MCM. Default behaviour is now press Shift to take a book. Known issues: Doesn't show Take/Steal text when taking a book. v2.1: Set default key in perk as LShift instead of undefined v3.0: Added inventory sound effects, reactions by nearby objects (i.e. they fall), and no more undetected thefts. v3.1: Added ability to use a gamepad button as the modifier key.